Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesKevin Boothe and the Giants lifted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLVI in part because the guard had a good game against Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork.

Yeah, Thursday being the first day of media accesss during the Giants' 2012 offseason program, much of the conversation was about the upcoming season and moving forward from the Super Bowl victory.

Still, this marked the first time the media had access to many players in weeks and months, so there was plenty of talk about that night in Lucas Oil Stadium and a few of the loose ends from that game, such as the holding penalty on Kevin Boothe that could’ve been very costly.

Boothe had a good laugh about that one while recalling Wilfork’s admitting to the official it was a bad call.

“Yeah, I saw the (Sound FX segment),” said Boothe, who started at left guard that night. “Because I told you I went to Vince and was like, ‘You know I didn’t hold you,’ and he winked at me. I knew he big-timed me. It happens.

“I put myself in a bad position. I could see how they could call it, but ..."

The Giants were leading 9-3 at the time and would’ve had a first down on a 10-yard run by Brandon Jacobs to the Pats’ 36. Instead, after Wilfork spun off Boothe and fell to the ground, it wound up being third-and-10 from the 45. After an incomplete pass, the Giants punted and New England then drove for a touchdown to take the lead.

“We knew they were going to probably try to switch it up a little bit with three- and four-down looks,” Boothe said. “But I knew once it got to third-and-long … and what’s crazy is he never comes off the field. You see a guy like that play 60, 70 snaps is crazy. I knew once we got into our sub, three-wides and things like that, there was a good chance he’d be flipping over and come to my side instead of (right guard Chris) Snee’s side.”

Boothe said he expected power rushes from Wilfork all night long.

“Yeah, but he’s quick though. It’s deceptive how he has a quick start,” Boothe said. “So the thing I tried to use to my advantage is I’m taller and longer than he is (6-5 vs. 6-2), so I wanted to keep separation from him. If you let him get into you, then you get into trouble.

“He’s a great player. We definitely had our hands full with him.”

And with the officials. Boothe, a rarely-penalized player who was a valuable sub for the Giants this past season, was also flagged for a false start in the fourth quarter.

“I was telling Snee (New England’s defensive linemen) were moving before the snap, trying to get us to jump. So don’t jump,” he recalled with a laugh. “And then, I jumped. I look over at Snee and he gives me this look like, ‘You mean like that?’”

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Boothe is part of an offensive line that could go through plenty of shuffling before the start of the season. At this point, no one seems to know how it’s going to shake out.

“I have no idea,” said Boothe, who played guard and center last season. “I haven’t even talked to the coaches. You can’t yet. So we’ll see. I guess we’ll start to get a better idea in the next few weeks when we start doing on the field work.

“But you have to be prepared for anything. Whatever it takes to help the team win.”

Boothe is working to control the only thing he can.

“Well, anything can happen, so I try to focus on improving my game and see what I need improvement on. Watch a little bit of football on my own in preparation in meeting with the coaches,” he said, adding with a smile: “I’m sure there are things I think I’m okay with that need to improve once I start meeting with (offensive line coach Pat) Flaherty. But it’s a good time to see everybody and get the workouts started and we’ll be excited to get out on the field in a couple of weeks.”

We've again asked for confirm that this will be the final version and keep getting shoulder shrugs, which might seem to indicate that it is. The ceremony is set for next month, so expect an announcement and confirmation soon.